Through a Marketing Lens — by Katie Windfeldt

When choosing my MBA breadth course elective, I decided to take a Personal Branding class, something that felt both exciting and slightly intimidating. The course required us to create and maintain a blog centered around a “sustainable interest,” something we could consistently write about while showcasing both our professionalism and skill set. Having taken a personal branding class during my senior year of undergrad, I felt like I had a foundation going in, but this experience pushed me in a completely different way and I quickly realized this wasn’t just about building a portfolio, it was about building me. At the beginning of the semester, I was nervous about the amount of writing and the fact that my work would be seen by more than just my professor, but at the same time, this class came during a time in life where I had already been doing a lot of personal and professional reflection. This made everything we were learning, especially through our required book Known by Mark Schaefer, feel incredibly aligned with my real life. 

At the beginning of the semester, one of my biggest challenges was figuring out what I could consistently write about. The idea of producing multiple blogs each week felt overwhelming, and I doubted whether I even had enough to even say about a general topic. But as I worked through the concept of finding a “sustainable interest” from Known, things started to click and I realized that one of my natural strengths is noticing details in marketing that others might overlook. That realization led me to create this blog, Through a Marketing Lens, where I could turn my everyday observations into meaningful insights. Not only did I find a topic I genuinely enjoyed writing about, I also discovered a passion I hadn’t fully recognized before. Ironically, during my internship for the ITS Logistics’ marketing department, I had written a couple of blogs and convinced myself, and the team, that I didn’t like writing at all. Now, I find myself writing up to three blogs a week and honestly feeling a little sad that this part of the class is coming to an end.

More than anything, this class taught me that personal branding isn’t something you create overnight, it’s something you have to build consistently over time. The structure of the course, requiring frequent blog posts tied to a clear theme, forced me to not only stay disciplined but also to continuously reflect on who I am and how I want to be perceived. I learned that your personal brand requires self-awareness, reflection, and the willingness to put yourself out there even if it feels uncomfortable, that understanding who you are can unlock strengths you didn’t even realize you had, and that sharing your perspective can create real connections with others around you. This course reinforced the importance of being intentional with how you show up, both online and in professional spaces, and that building a personal brand isn’t just about visibility, but creating a reputation that reflects your values, voice, and perspective.

As this class comes to an end, I don’t see it as the end of anything, I see it as the beginning of something I plan to continue. What started as a requirement for my MBA elective has turned into something much more personal and meaningful. I plan to keep blogging and continue viewing the world through my marketing lens because it’s become a part of how I think and learn. Hearing feedback from my friends and family, my professor, and people I don’t even know has been incredibly encouraging and has given me a new level of confidence as I prepare to step into the professional world. This class and blog has showed me that building a personal brand is an ongoing process, one that happens day by day, and it’s something I’m genuinely excited to continue after graduation!

I’m especially thankful for Professor Christie Chaump, whose guidance made this class both challenging and incredibly rewarding!

Are you actively building your personal brand, or just thinking about it?! If so, here’s your sign to start today!